Memorial Day Photo Contest by Funeralwise.com

Funeralwise.com invites photographers across the U.S. to participate in its first annual Memorial Day Photo Contest. This photography contest will recognize and reward photographers whose images convey the meaning and emotion associated with Memorial Day in cemeteries across the United States. The Funeralwise.com Fan-tastic Photo Contest offers a $500 Grand Prize.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, unofficially started during the Civil War as a day of remembrance for those who died in military service. Ladies in both Northern and Southern communities decorated soldiers’ graves, tapping into the general human need to honor our dead. The first official Memorial Day observance at Arlington National Cemetery was held on May 30, 1868.

“People pay their respects in many different ways when they visit cemeteries for Memorial Day,” said Larry Anspach, co-founder of Funeralwise.com and former cemetery owner. “This photo contest will help capture and share the tributes and emotional connections made at the final resting places of our men and women in the U.S. armed forces.”

Cash prizes will be awarded for images taken between now and the June 15, 2011 submission deadline. Pictures taken by both amateur and professional photographers are welcome. A panel of judges will select 12 finalists from the photos submitted. The finalist photos will be displayed on Funeralwise.com’s Facebook pages at http://www.facebook.com/funeralwise and Facebook fans will be invited to vote for their favorite photos. Winners will be determined by the fan votes.

Send submissions as JPG attachments to photocontest@funeralwise.com, up to three images per entry, with the photographer’s name, address, phone number, and cemetery name and location.

Aiming to provide “Everything You Need to Know About Funerals,” Funeralwise.com features extensive information on funeral-related subjects including funeral customs, funeral etiquette, and grief support. Visitors to the site can subscribe to its “Word to the Wise” series of free guides at http://www.funeralwise.com/free-guides.